Inflation valve for catheter retention balloon

ABSTRACT

An inflation valve for a retention balloon in a catheter having an inflation lumen communicating with the balloon. The valve has a housing defining a chamber, opening means at one end of the housing communicating between the chamber and the inflation lumen, and an inwardly directed flange at the other end of the housing. A rim is secured to the flange and has a first portion projecting into the chamber, a second portion projecting outwardly from the flange, and a tapered passageway extending through the rim. The valve also includes a compressible plug received in the chamber and having a first shoulder, a neck extending from the first shoulder, a second shoulder extending from the neck, and a tapered stopper extending from the second shoulder and received in the passageway. The plug biases the stopper against the tapered portion of the passageway in sealing engagement to prevent passage of fluid from the chamber, and the plug compresses responsive to the insertion of a syringe tip into the passageway from its outer end to permit passage of fluid from the syringe into the chamber and inflation lumen.

United 813168 Patent 1 Patel [5 INFLATION VALVE FOR CA RETENTION BALLOON[75] Inventor: Bhupendra C. Patel, Elgin, ll].

[73] Assignee: The Kendall Company, Boston,

Mass. Y

[22] Filed: Sept. 30, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 185,018

TEE

[52] US. Cl. ..128/349 BV, 137/525, 251/149.6

Primary ExaminerLucie H. Laudenslager Attorney-Robert D. Chodera 1 Apr.10, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT An inflation valve for a retention balloon in acatheter having an inflation lumen communicating with the balloon. Thevalve has a housing defining a chamber, opening means at one end of thehousing communicating between the chamber and the inflation lumen, andan inwardly directed flange at the other end of the housing. A rim issecured to the flange and has a first portion projecting into thechamber, a second portion projecting outwardly from the flange, and atapered passageway extending through the rim. The valve also includes acompressible plug received in the chamber and having a first shoulder, aneck extending from the first shoulder, a second shoulder extending fromthe neck, and a tapered stopper extending from the second shoulder andreceived in the passageway. The plug biases the stopper against thetapered portion of the passageway in sealing engagement to preventpassage of fluid from the chamber, and the plug compresses responsive tothe insertion of a syringe tip into the passageway from its outer end topermit passage of fluid from the syringe into the chamber and inflationlumen.

8 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED 3.726.282

SHEET 1 [)F 2 FIG.5

INFLATION VALVE FOE QATIIIETER RETENTION BALLOON BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to valves,and more particularly to valves for inflating and deflating a catheterballoon.

2. Description of the Prior Art In utilizing various types ofconventional catheters, such as urinary catheters, the distal end ofsuch catheters is inserted into the body cavity of a patient, such asthe bladder, and liquid is drained from the body cavity through a lumenin the catheter. Since it is desirable to prevent the removal of thecatheter from the body cavity during drainage, inadvertently orotherwise, catheters in the past have been provided with a retentionballoon adjacent their distal ends, and the balloon is inflated in thebody cavity after insertion of the catheter to hold it in place. Afterdrainage of the body cavity has been completed, the balloon is deflatedand the catheter is removed.

Several types of valves have been proposed for inflating and deflatingcatheter balloons, such as Harautuneian U.S. Pat. No. 3,385,301, GarthU.S. Pat. No. 3,087,492, Swanson U.S. Pat. No. 3,409,0l5, and Gould etal. U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,677. However, since catheters are frequentlyintended to be disposable, it is desirable to utilize a simplified valvefor the retention balloon, while providing an adequate sealingarrangement in the valve to maintain the balloon inflated over extendedperiods of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The principal feature of the present inventionis the provision of a valve of simplified construction for inflating anddeflating a catheter balloon and having an improved sealing constructionfor retaining fluid in the balloon over protracted periods of time afterinflation.

The inflation valve of the present invention is utilized to inflate anddeflate the catheter retention balloon through an inflation lumencommunicating with the balloon. The valve has a housing which includes,a sidewall extending peripherally around a chamber in the housing, aplate secured to the sidewall adjacent one of its ends and having aplurality of openings communicating between the chamber and theinflation lumen, an inwardly directed flange adjacent the other end ofthe sidewall, and a rim secured to the flange such that the flangeextends between the rim and the sidewall. The rim has a first portionprojecting inwardly from the flange into the chamber, a second portionprojecting outwardly from the flange relative to the chamber, and apassageway extending through the rim between the chamber and the outsideof the housing, with at least a portion of the passageway being taperedfrom the inner end of the first rim portion. The valve also has acompressible plug received in the chamber which includes, a firstshoulder having a lower surface engaging the inner surface of the plate,a neck extending from the first shoulder, a second shoulder extendingfrom the neck, and a tapered stopper extending from the second shoulderand received in the passageway. The first and second shoulders have aplurality of outwardly directed protuberances spaced around theirperipheries, with the protuberances extending adjacent to the innersurface of the sidewall. The stopper includes a transverse slot in itsupper end, and the first rim portion has a transverse slot in its innerend generally aligned with the slot in the stopper.

A feature of the present invention is that the plug biases the stopperagainst the inner tapered portion of the passageway in sealingengagement to prevent passage of fluid from the chamber through thepassageway.

Another feature of the present invention is that the plug compressesresponsive to the insertion of a syringe tip into the passageway fromits outer end, such that the stopper partially retracts from thepassageway to permit the passage of fluid from the syringe tip into thechamber.

A further feature of the present invention is that the stopper and firstrim portion slots facilitate passage of fluid from the syringe tip intothe chamber.

Yet another feature of the invention is that the shoulder protuberancesretain the plug in an upright position in the chamber, while permittingpassage of fluid around the plug into the inflation lumen.

Still another feature of the invention is the provision of means forretaining the syringe to the second rim portion during inflation of theballoon with the plug compressed.

Further features will become more fully apparent in the followingdescription of the embodiments of this invention and from the appendedclaims.

DESCRIPTION 01F THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view, taken partly in section,of a catheter having a retention balloon and the inflation valve of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a housing plate andcompressible plug in one embodiment of the inflation valve, and afragmentary perspective view of a syringe as aligned with the plug;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, taken partly in section, of theinflation valve of lFlG. 2 in a sealing configuration;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view, taken partly in section, of the valveof FIG. 3, with the syringe secured to a housing in the valve forinflating the retention balloon;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of ahousing for the valve of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the inflation valveof the present invention with a cap in the valve removed;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the valve of FIG. 6 in a sealingconfiguration, being taken partly in section along the line 7-7 of FIG.6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the valve of FIG. 7, being takenpartly in section as the valve in FIG. '7, with a syringe tip insertedinto the valve for inflating the catheter balloon; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a compremible plugfor the valve of FIGS. M.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, acatheter, generally designated M, is shown having a drainage lumen 22;ex-

tending through the catheter and communicating with a drainage eye 24adjacent a distal end 25 of the catheter 20, and having a retentionballoon 26 adjacent its distal end 25. The catheter has a sidearm 30extending outwardly from a sidewall 27 of the catheter, and an inflationlumen 28 extends through the catheter sidewall 27 and a tubular portion29 of the sidearm 36, such that the inflation lumen 28 communicatesbetween the balloon 26 and an inflation valve designated generally 32which is retained in a sleeve 34 at the outer end of the sidearm 30. Inoperation, the distal end of the catheter is inserted into a body cavityof a patient and liquid from the body cavity drains through the eye 24and lumen 22 to liquid collection apparatus (not shown) connected to aproximal end 31 of the catheter. In order to retain the catheter in thebody cavity, fluid is injected through the inflation valve 32, such asby a syringe, into the inflation lumen 28 to inflate the balloon 26 inthe body cavity. After expansion, the balloon 26 retains the catheter inthe cavity, and when drainage is complete, often after protractedperiods of time, the balloon 26 is deflated by withdrawing the fluidfrom the balloon through the lumen 28 and valve 32 to permit removal ofthe catheter from the body.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inflation valve 32 of the presentinvention includes a housing designated generally 36 and a compressibleplug designated generally 38, which is retained in a chamber 40 in thehousing. The housing 36 has an annular sidewall 42 which extendsperipherally around the chamber 40, and a plate 44 secured to one end 46of the sidewall 42 by an annular flange 48 which is received in acorresponding annular groove 50 in the one sidewall end 46. As shown inFIGS. 24, the plate 44 has a plurality of openings 52 communicatingbetween the chamber 40 and the inflation lumen 28. As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, the housing 36 also has an inwardly directed flange 54adjacent the other end 56 of the sidewall 42, and an annular rim 58 isattached to the flange 54, such that the flange 54 extends between therim 58 and the sidewall 42. The rim 58 has a first portion 60 projectinginwardly from the flange 54 into the chamber 40, and a second portion 62projecting outwardly from the flange 54 relative to the chamber. The rim58 also has a passageway 64 extending trough the rim between the chamber40 and the outside of the housing 36. A first portion 66 of thepassageway 64 is tapered from the inner end of the first rim portion 60,and, preferably, a second portion 68 of the passageway 64 is taperedfrom the outer end of the second rim portion 62 to receive the tip T ofa syringe S. The first rim portion 60 has a transverse slot 70, for apurpose which will be described below.

The sleeve 34 has an annular groove '71, and the housing 36 is receivedin the groove 71 to retain the housing in position in the sleeve 34 andhold the assembled plate 44 and sidewall 42 together. Preferably, thegroove 71 is located a suffieient distance from the outer end 73 of thesleeve 34 such that the second rim portion 62 of the housing does notextend out of the sleeve, in order that the outer sleeve end 73 protectsthe valve and prevents inadvertent injury to the patient, such asscratching of the patients body by the second rim portion 62.

As illustrated in FIGS. 24, the compressible plug 38 includes a firstshoulder 72 having a lower surface 74 engaging an inner surface 76 ofthe plate 44 relative to the chamber 40. The plug also has a neck 78 ofrestricted diameter extending from the first shoulder 72, and a secondshoulder 80 of enlarged diameter extending from the neck 78. The firstand second shoulders 72 and 80 have a plurality of outwardly directedprotuberances 82 extending adjacent to an inner surface 84 of thesidewall 42 to retain the plug 38 in an upright position in the chamber40, while permitting relative movement of the plug 38 in the chamber,and

particularly the second shoulder 80. The plug also includes a taperedstopper 86 extending from the second shoulder 80, and the stopper 86 hasa transverse slot 88 at its upper end.

As shown in FIG. 3, the compressible plug biases the stopper 86 againstthe inner tapered portion 66 of the passageway 64 in sealing engagementto prevent passage of fluid from the chamber 40 into the passageway.Thus, once the balloon has been inflated, the resiliency and flexibilityof the plug causes sealing in the valve, and the sealing surfaces of thestopper and rim prevents the escape of fluid from the inflated balloon26 over extended periods of time.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the tip T of the syringe S is inserted intothe outer end of the passageway 64 to inflate the balloon 26. Once thesyringe tip engages the upper end of the stopper 86, the plug compressesresponsive to further insertion of the tip. After the syringe has beeninserted sufficiently far to compress the plug, fluid is forced from thesyringe through its tip T into the slot 88, which permits passage offluid around the upper end of the stopper 86. From the slot 88, thefluid passes through the first rim portion slot 70, which is preferablyaligned with the stopper slot 88, and into the chamber 40. The directionof fluid flow from the syringe tip T to the chamber 40 is indicated byarrows in FIG. 4. Thus, the slots 88 and facilitate the passage of fluidfrom the syringe tip T into the chamber, since they permit fluidcommunication between the tip and chamber after only a relatively slightcompression of the plug. In the chamber, fluid passes around the sidesof the plug shoulders 72 and between the protuberances 82, through theplate openings 52, and into the inflation lumen 28, as indicated by thearrows in FIG. 4, to inflate the balloon 26. During inflation of theballoon, the syringe tip T engages the outer tapered passageway portion68 to prevent leakage of fluid out of the housing 36. Preferably, thesecond rim portion 62 includes an outwardly directed thread 90, which inconjunction with a thread T on the syringe serves as a Luer lock ormeans for retaining the syringe to the second rim portion 62 duringinflation and deflation of the balloon 26 with the plug compressed.However, if desired the Luer lock may be omitted from the valve, inwhich case the frictional engagement between the syringe tip and thepassageway portion 68 serves to retain the syringe tip in position inthe passageway 64.

The deflation of the catheter balloon is accomplished in a mannersimilar to its inflation. The syringe tip T is inserted into the outerend of the passageway 64, and the syringe is locked in place by theinterengaging threads 96 and T, with the syringe tip T compressing theplug 38. A vacuum is then created in the syringe, such as by withdrawinga plunger (not shown), and fluid reverses its path from the balloon 26into the chamber 40 and through the slots 70 and 88 into the syringe tipT.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first rim portion 60 may alternatively have aplurality of notches 65 facing the passageway 64 adjacent the inner endof the first rim portion 60 and preferably aligned with the stopper slot88 to facilitate passage of fluid from the passageway into the chamberin a manner similar to that described in connection with the slot 70.However, in this embodiment of the valve 32, the first rim portion 60has a circumferentially extending sealing surface 67 at its inner endwhich sealingly engages against the upper surface of the second shoulder80 to additionally insure against the escape of fluid from the inflatedvalve.

Another embodiment of the inflation valve of the present invention isillustrated in FIGS. 6-8, in which like reference numerals areincremented by one hundred to designate like parts. The inflation valve132 includes a housing having an annular side wall 142 extendingperipherally around a chamber 140 in which a cylindrically-shapedcompressible plug 138 is retained. The housing includes a base portion141 extending from one end 146 of the sidewall 142 and having aplurality of inwardly directed support flanges 143, which define aplurality of channels 145 intermediate the flanges 143. The channels 145extend from adjacent an inner surface 184 of the sidewall 142, such thatthey communicate between the chamber 140 and the inflation lumen 128through a centrally located channel 147, also defined by the flanges 143and an outer end 149 of the base portion 141.

The housing side wall 142 has a plurality of beads 151 spacedperipherally around the sidewall, which extend longitudinally along theinner surface 184 of the sidewall. The beads 151 project inwardlyadjacent to the plug 138 in order to retain the plug in an uprightposition and permit slight compression of the plug in i the chamber 140.A cap 153 is secured to the other sidewall end 156 by a plurality offlanges 155 depending from the cap 153 and a corresponding set ofgrooves 157 in the sidewall which receive the flanges 155. The cap 153has a centrally located passageway 164 which is tapered to receive andengage the tip T of the syringe.

The plug 138 has a lower surface 174 which engages the support flanges143, and an upper surface 159 biased by the compressible plug against alower surface 161 of the cap 153, as shown in FIG. 7. Thus, the surfaces159 and 161 of the plug and cap, respectively, make a sealing engagementto prevent passage of fluid from the balloon and valve chamber after theballoon has been inflated.

In order to inflate the balloon, the syringe tip T is inserted into thepassageway 164 until the tip slightly compresses the plug 138 in thechamber, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Fluid from the syringe tip passesinto a slot 188 in the upper end of the plug 138, and passes from theslot 188 between the now spaced plug and cap surfaces 159 and 161,around the side of the plug intermediate the beads 151, and through thechannels 145 and 147 into the inflation lumen 128 leading to theballoon, as indicated by the arrows in the drawing. If

desired, the valve of FIGS. 6-8 and syringe may have a Luer lock similarto that described for the valve of FIGS. 1-5 to retain the syringe tothe valve with the plug compressed. When the syringe tip T is removedfrom the passageway 164, the plug sealingly engages against the cap, aspreviously described. Fluid is withdrawn from the balloon in a mannersimilar to the procedure described in connection with the inflationvalve of FIGS. 1-5.

Another embodiment of a plug for the valve of F IGS. 6-8 is illustratedin FIG. 9. In this embodiment, the flexible plug 138 has a lower firstshoulder 172, a neck 178 extending from the first shoulder 172, and asecond upper shoulder 180 extending from the neck 178. An upper surface159' of the second shoulder 180 is biased by the plug 138' against thelower surface 161 of the cap 153, and the second shoulder 180 has atransverse slot 188' in its upper surface 159' to facilitate fluidpassage from the syringe tip. ln operation, the plug 138' functions in amanner similar to the plug 138, as previously described.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness ofunderstanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, as modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

I claim;

1. In a catheter including a retention balloon and an inflation lumencommunicating with said balloon, an inflation valve comprising:

a housing including,

a sidewall extending peripherally around a chamber in the housing,

a plate secured to the sidewall adjacent one of its ends and having aplurality of openings communicating between said chamber and inflationlumen,

an inwardly directed flange adjacent the other end of the sidewall, and

a rim attached to the flange with the flange extending between the rimand the sidewall, said rim having a first portion projecting inwardlyfrom the flange into the chamber, a second portion projecting outwardlyfrom the flange relative to the chamber, and a passageway extendingthrough the rim between the chamber and the outside of the housing, withat least a portion of said passageway being tapered from adjacent theinner end of the first rim portion; and

a compressible plug retained in the chamber and including,

a first shoulder having a lower surface engaging the inner surface ofsaid plate,

a neck extending from said first shoulder,

a second shoulder extending from said neck, said first and secondshoulders having a plurality of outwardly directed protuberances spacedaround their peripheries, with said protuberances extending adjacent tothe inner surface of said sidewall to retain the plug in an uprightposition in the chamber, and tapered stopper extending from said secondshoulder and received in said passageway, with said plug biasing thestopper against the inner tapered portion of said passageway in sealingen-.

gagement to prevent passage of fluid from the chamber through thepassageway, and said plug compressing responsive to the insertion of asyringe tip into the passageway from its outer end. whereby the stopperat least partially retracts from the passageway to permit the passage offluid from the syringe tip into the chamber.

2. The inflation valve of claim 1 wherein said stopper includes atransverse slot adjacent its upper end to facilitate the passage offluid from the syringe tip.

3. The inflation valve of claim 2 wherein the first rim portion includesa transverse slot adjacent its inner end to facilitate passage of fluidfrom the passageway into the chamber.

4. The inflation valve of claim 3 wherein said stopper and first rimportion slots are generally aligned.

S. The inflation valve of claim 2 wherein the first rim portion has aplurality of notches adjacent its inner end and facing the passageway tofacilitate passage of fluid from the passageway into the chamber.

6. The inflation valve of claim 5 wherein said notches and stopper slotare generally aligned.

'7. The inflation valve of claim 1 wherein the first rim portion has asurface adjacent its inner end to sealingly engage against an uppersurface of the second shoulder.

8. The inflation valve of claim 1 including means for retaining thesyringe to the second rim portion with the syringe tip compressing theplug during inflation and deflation of the balloon.

1. In a catheter including a retention balloon and an inflation lumencommunicating with said balloon, an inflation valve comprising: ahousing including, a sidewall extending peripherally around a chamber inthe housing, a plate secured to the sidewall adjacent one of its endsand having a plurality of openings communicating between said chamberand inflation lumen, an inwardly directed flange adjacent the other endof the sidewall, and a rim attached to the flange with the flangeextending between the rim and the sidewall, said rim having a firstportion prOjecting inwardly from the flange into the chamber, a secondportion projecting outwardly from the flange relative to the chamber,and a passageway extending through the rim between the chamber and theoutside of the housing, with at least a portion of said passageway beingtapered from adjacent the inner end of the first rim portion; and acompressible plug retained in the chamber and including, a firstshoulder having a lower surface engaging the inner surface of saidplate, a neck extending from said first shoulder, a second shoulderextending from said neck, said first and second shoulders having aplurality of outwardly directed protuberances spaced around theirperipheries, with said protuberances extending adjacent to the innersurface of said sidewall to retain the plug in an upright position inthe chamber, and a tapered stopper extending from said second shoulderand received in said passageway, with said plug biasing the stopperagainst the inner tapered portion of said passageway in sealingengagement to prevent passage of fluid from the chamber through thepassageway, and said plug compressing responsive to the insertion of asyringe tip into the passageway from its outer end, whereby the stopperat least partially retracts from the passageway to permit the passage offluid from the syringe tip into the chamber.
 2. The inflation valve ofclaim 1 wherein said stopper includes a transverse slot adjacent itsupper end to facilitate the passage of fluid from the syringe tip. 3.The inflation valve of claim 2 wherein the first rim portion includes atransverse slot adjacent its inner end to facilitate passage of fluidfrom the passageway into the chamber.
 4. The inflation valve of claim 3wherein said stopper and first rim portion slots are generally aligned.5. The inflation valve of claim 2 wherein the first rim portion has aplurality of notches adjacent its inner end and facing the passageway tofacilitate passage of fluid from the passageway into the chamber.
 6. Theinflation valve of claim 5 wherein said notches and stopper slot aregenerally aligned.
 7. The inflation valve of claim 1 wherein the firstrim portion has a surface adjacent its inner end to sealingly engageagainst an upper surface of the second shoulder.
 8. The inflation valveof claim 1 including means for retaining the syringe to the second rimportion with the syringe tip compressing the plug during inflation anddeflation of the balloon.